Surname Heeney - Meaning and Origin
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Heeney: What does the surname Heeney mean?
The last name of Heeney is an Anglicized version of the Irish name Ó hEidhin. This name originated in Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic Ó hEidhinn, meaning “descendant of Eidhin”. The name Eidhin is derived from the old Irish word “eideach”, which means “shawl”.
The Heeney name is believed to have originated in County Mayo and most Heeneys descended from a small clan which was located near the westernmost coast of the region. The most prominent family of this clan was found near Ballintubber Abbey.
The Heeneys were known for their religious faith, dedication to their trades and their hospitality. As a result, many Heeneys dispersed across the world and the surname can still be found today in places such as England, Canada, Australia, the United States and even South America.
To this day, the Heeney family retains its traditional values of faith, loyalty and hospitality. The strong sense of identity within the Heeneys is reflected in a dedication to their ancestral home as well as to their faith.
Order DNA origin analysisHeeney: Where does the name Heeney come from?
The last name Heeney is a common Irish surname, and today it is most commonly found in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The name originates from the Gaelic name O'hAonghusa, which translates to descendant of Angus. It is thought to be derived from the personal name Aonghus, which just means "one strength" in Old Irish.
The name Heeney is also common in parts of the United Kingdom, such as Scotland and Wales. Generally speaking, the last name is relatively rare outside of these two countries. In the United States, it is far less common, although cases of the last name have been found in states such as New York, Florida, and California.
In Ireland, the Heeney surname is particularly associated with the counties of Mayo and Roscommon. During the 19th century, large numbers of individuals with the Heeney surname moved to the United States, Australia, and Canada, and large populations of Heeney's can be found today in all three countries.
Generally speaking, the last name Heeney is most common in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and parts of the United Kingdom. It is also present in the United States, Australia, and Canada, but is generally rare outside of these countries.
Variations of the surname Heeney
The surname Heeney is an anglicized variant of the Irish surname Ó hAodha or O'Heaney. This surname has quite a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Heaney, Heane, Henney, Heeney, and Heany. The most common spelling is Heeney, followed by Heaney, Heane, Henney and Heany. The surnames of the same origin are Haney, Heney, Heany, Heinny, Hiney, and Hine.
Heeney is an Irish-based surname, most commonly found in Counties Kilkenny, Wexford, and Sheelah and Cork. It is derived from the Ó hAodha sept of the Uí Dúin Céadchathaigh. It is associated with the Mac Aodháin family, who were notable warriors from the territory known as Uí Dúin Céadachta before moving to Kerry some four hundred years ago.
The surname is now found mainly in the Leinster region, but it is still widely distributed throughout Ireland, particularly amongst descendants of the Mac Aodháin family, who are based mainly in Kerry. Other variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, such as Haney, Heney, Heany, Heinny, Hiney, and Hine can also be found in other parts of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In the US, Heeney is often found as an Americanized spelling of Heaney or Heany, although the spelling of Heeney remains most common in Ireland.
In sum, the surname Heeney has quite a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, all of which need to be considered when researching the history of the name. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Heaney, Heane, Henney, Heany, Haney, Heney, Heany, Heinny, Hiney, and Hine.
Famous people with the name Heeney
- John Heeney: John Heeney is a Canadian activist, who works in support of everyone being allowed to speak freely and hold their own perspective. He organizes nationwide conferences and meetings to bring public attention and engagement to the issues.
- Helene Heeney: Helene Heeney is a Swiss business leader. She started her career in the banking industry in Switzerland before becoming managing director of the Keplercas Group in Geneva, which she ran for three years.
- Sean Heeney: Sean Heeney is an American film producer, director, and screenwriter. He has produced and written films for major Hollywood studios, including Universal Pictures and Dreamworks.
- Peter Heeney: Peter Heeney is an Australian politician and trade unionist. He served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1995 to 2011, representing the electorate of Keira.
- Bill Heeney: Bill Heeney is an American lawyer and former Lieutenant Governor of Nevada. He served as Lieutenant Governor from 1959 to 1967 and was the first elected Nevada representative to the National Governors Association.
- Edward Heeney: Edward Heeney was an Irish soldier who volunteered for the British Army during World War I and served in France. He lost a leg in battle and was eventually awarded several medals for his service including the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
- Kathleen Heeney: Kathleen Heeney was an American actress. Her most notable role was as Molly in the play “The Time of Your Life” where her performance as a lonely New York waitress earned her the Helen Hayes Award for the Best Performance in a Play.
- Dean Heeney: Dean Heeney is a British television, radio and theatre actor. He has appeared in multiple British television shows, including 'Hollyoaks' and 'EastEnders'. His theatre work includes playing one of the lead roles in productions of Macbeth and Romeo at the Edinburgh Fringe.